The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1887-01-27
TO Be OR moi TO Be I
SHALL BUNCoMBE HAVE 4
STOCK LAW OR NOT 2 j
THIS QUESTION coNsIE
Erred AT THE COURT
HOUSE YESTERDAY.
LARGE MEETING OF REP
RESENTATIVE FAR
MERS.
A Splendid Delegation Goes
to Raleigh to Consult with
the Senate COn1mftte4
GOOD SPEECHES, AND NOFFT1E,
POLITICAL IN THEM.

Pursuant to call made Saturday, a
large and representative meeting of the
farmers of Buncombe met in the court
house yesterday to consider the question
of the passage by the Legislature (and
especially by the Senate, the bill having
passed the House, of what is known as
the Pearson repeal of the Buneombe
Stock Law.
On motion, Capt. A. NJ. Alexander
was called tothe chair, and the repre-
sentatives Of the press were requested to
act as Secretaries.
The chair requested Mr.. w. G. Can
dler to explain the objects of the meet
ing, and this gentleman did this in a
brief but forcible manner. He was de.
lighted to see this gathering of
the good people of every section
of the county. He felt vital interest in
this question-it was not political one,
but one that appealed to the best inter-
ests ofevery farmer in Buncombe coun-
ty. He was sound Republican, and
that from principle, as all know. There
were many Democrats present who were
80 from principle-but they all felt alike
on this subject. This was a meeting of
the landholders and tax payers of Bun
combe county who had met to stand by
what they deemed right. He had no
policy to advocate andho emmity to re-
sent, and wanted to see the meeting
void of any such feeling; wanted to
hear no harangues against any in
diyidual, but only to hear the broad
issue discussed and considered as to
whether it was best that the present
stock law for Buncombe county should
be repealed. He was stock-laE. pan,
hsad was one when membe the
gfsI.srisssi --..ss.l- ----Z-sl,.e --l.e -
bill to TINS D..
killed. He believed then it wa FOL
our people, and he believed SO stt and
the more he saw of its workings the more
he was convinced that it was for the
good of the whole people. The law en-
acted two years ago had been enforced
and it would work hardship upon the
farmers to repeal 1t now. IF let alone
for two or four years there would not be
found fifty meg in the county
opposed to it-give it a test, and
the people will not do without it; il
after trying it they do not want
it, then repeal it. Don't tear it to pieces
before trial. We came here to consult to-
gether and to send delegates to Raleigh to
go before the Senate committee to protest
against the repeal of the stock law. The
bill as passed by the House is so ridicu-
lous and so expensive in its character that
the stock law men of the county cannot
have fair vote; if nothing else can be
done, throw out the obnoxious features of
the present bill and give the people the
plain question. He had no abuse for Mr..
Pearson, the framer of the bill, but this
bill was of such character that the people
of Buncombe who were opposed to it
could not vote upon it with justice to
themselves. Send good men to Raleigh
to express the real sentiments of this
meeting, and he believed the Senate and
the Legislature of North Carolina would
be prevailed upon to let the present law
stand until it could have fair trial
that was all the friends of the stock-law
asked. The speaker here discussed the
merits of the stock-law and its effect
upon the farming inte, ests of Buncombe
county. The farmers could not set their
crop for this year and at the same time
build new fences by the month of Sep
tember as provided In the Pearson bill.
If in three or four years the law is
found Objectionable, then repeal it.
The speaker would not say that Mr..
Pearson had SO framed this bill as
to bring about its defeat--human nature
was human nature, and it is possible
that little personal ends" may have
crept into this bill. If the Senate can
not be prevailed upon to give us more
time to try the stock law, then have the
bill SO framed that the people of the
county can vote for it without such
Objectionable fsatures-let us vote
upon it as a naked question. The
stock law men of Buncombe county
represented three fourths of the tax
paying element of the county0 Enact
laws enabling the farmers to raise pro.
duce, and you help the farming interests
and the country at large. The stock Law
was the only one which in his estimation
had ever been passed in the interests Of
the farmers of Buncombe county.
The speaker was frequently applauded
during his remarks.
Mr.. C. B. Way moved that committee
be appointed to prepare resolutions ex-
pressive of the sense of the meeting, and
the committee consisted of Messrs. c. b
Way, 7. B. Long, IDEAS. Israel, Cling
Hunter, ]. "a Reagan Z. NJ. Hatch, r